Testing apparatus



Nov. 29, 1927. I 1,651,159

C. H. SCHURR TESTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 26. 1922 Guan,

Patented Nov. A29, 1927. y A

UNITED STATES cuantas n.'

SCHULE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,` .ASSIGNOR TO THE LEES-BRADNR COH- Tm, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, .A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TESTING APPARATUS.

Applitzatmn led Ang-ult 26, 1922. Serial No. 584,510.

This invention relates to an apparatus for testing'v gears to determine the accuracy or inaccuracy ofthe spacing ofthe gear teeth thereof. One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus o-f this character of relatively simple construction capable of indicating inaccuracies in the spacing of the gear teeth.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of this character in which means are provided for measuring or comparing the spacing between the teeth of a gear to determine the accuracy or inaccuracy thereof. "'jaQther objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan View of an apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 isa section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3'-3 of Fig. 1.

lReferring to the drawing, 1 indicates a base or bed of any desired construction, but preferably supported on a plurality of legs 2. The top 1a of the base or bed 1 is preferably disposed horizontally.: The top 1a consists of a plane to permit movement of a frame 4 thereon if the latter is rotated about the axis of a shaft 5, but in thev preferred arrangement, the frame 4 is held stationary and the gear.A is indexedor moved in the manner to be later set forth. The frame 4 comprises an outer member formed of a air of bars 4Il connected together at then' opposite ends and held in justed relative to the inner member 4c radially of the shaft 5 by means'indicated as an entirety at 6. Of these moving means, 6n indicates -a rod extending through and having bearing in an opening .6h formed in one of the links 4". @The inner end of the rod is spaced parallel relationship by links 4b, and

by the outer member may be moved or ad? gages lthe inner face of the adjacent link 4; to control its movement inwardly, I prov vide between the link 4b and a shoulder 7 '(the shoulder preferably com rising ahead by which the rod 6 is rotate a spring 7; the collar 7 and spring 7'L through their engagement with the adjacent link 4" serving to insure movement of the bars 4a relative to the intermediate member 4c when the rod 6a is rotated in one direction or the other'. The base or bed 1 is formed with an openlng 8, surrounding which is a depending member 9 preferabl of tubular shape, adapted to receive a ushing 10, the latter bemg provided with a collar 11, which engages the top 1- and supports the bushing in the tubular member 9. The tubular member 9, as well as the strengthening ribs 12 and lugs 13 (to which the legs 2 are secured) are preferably formed integrally.

The shaft or spindle 5 removably fits the bushlng 10, being provided with a ring 14 which engages a washer 15, disposed on the upper end of the bushing 10, to support the shaft or spindle 5 in position. As shown in Fig. 2, the Washer V15 extends over the intermediate frame member 4c to engage its upper 'surface so as to hold the intermediate frame member, and through it the bars 4a, in engagement with the top 1".` At its lower end, the shaft or spindle 5 may be reduced, as shown at 16 and such reduced end is pro- 4vided with screw threads to receive a nut 17, which may be tightened against a washer 19. As the washer 19 engages the lower end of the-bushing l0, it will lbe seen that the A'n-ut 17, when tightened, serves to prevent,l

bor 20, as will later be set forth, to test the spacing of two adjacent teeth and to then raise the gear or remove it from the arbor and turn it an angular distance equal to the sey l spacingy of onel or moreA teeth, and then 're-position 'itfon the arbor' in testing posigear A may be removably held on and iixed i tion, but if desired, in making each test, the

to the arbor 20'bya nut 2l engaging screw 1 are arranged by the-freine 4, eac abutment beingmounted on vone of thefibars 4 the abutments 23 l ual distances from one end ofthe frame an at opposite sides of a plane j containing the axis of the gear A or the shaft 5. Each abutment 23 preferably comprises a roller 23l mounted on a shaft 23" fixed in an opening 23 formed in the adjacent bar 4. I preferably provide on the shaft 23b an anti-friction bearingthe outer race of which may serve as the roller 23".

' 24 indicates an annulus fixed to the shaft 5, preferably corresponding in diameter to' l one of the circles of the gear A, for example,

the base circle thereof. The annulus 24 may be connected'to the shaft 5 in a manner which permits its removal, when desired. As will later appear, the annulus 24 forms an abutment element for a support indicated as .an entirety at 25.

The support 25 extends transversely of the frame 4 and has a central rearwardly extended portion 25 and a depending ange 26 along its front edge. The flange is disposed between the abutments 23 and the annulus 24, the abutments being operated by the moving means 6 to yieldingly hold the Harige againstthe annulus and to thereby maint-ain the support 25 in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. When it is desired to remove the support 25, the rod 6'* is operated to move the abutments away from the shaft 5. From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide circular-shaped elements 5, 9, 10 and 24, this construction facilitating their ass embly without regard to any predetermined angular relation to each other or of the abutment element (annu'lus 24) for the support 25 relative to the latter or the abutment-s 23.

27, 28, indicate devices for engaging the corresponding working faces of adjoining teeth a of the gear A to determine whether the spacing thereof is correct or not. The device 27 is preferably connected to a plate 29 which is adjustably carried by a base 30.

whereby it may be {ixedin any predetermined position for voperative relationship with the tooth engaging device 28. The base 30 is formed with a groove 31 to slidably receive the plate 29 and also a plurality of openings 32 which (or one thereof, as shown) may `receive a set screw 33 that clamps the plate in its adjusted position. As shown. the groove 31 is extended from end to end of the base 30 and the latter is formed with openings 32' at the opposite side of il. line fulcrumed at 34, whereby it may be moved' due to inaccuracy occurring in the spacing of any'two gear teeth a, and thus cause an indicating or measuring mechanism, indicated as an entirety at 35, to show the amount of inaccuracy existing. The indicating or measuringmechanism may be of any suitable construction, that shown comprising a casing 36 having a laterally extending tubular arm or sleeve 37 removably clamped between a pair of standards 38, having a. shank detachab'ly mounted at its lower end in an opening formed in the base' 30. 39 indicates a plunger the outer end of which is engaged by the tail 28L of the lever which forms part of the tooth engaging device 28 and adapted to be actuated thereby. The plunger 39 extends through the arm or sleeve 37 and is operatively connected at its inner end with a hand 40 which is mounted on the casing 36 and associated with a dial 41 to show the displacement of the device 28 due to the inaccuracy occurring in the gear teeth spacing. The tail 28 is preferably supported on a pedestal 42, its movement in either direction being limited by upstanding pins 43. When the tooth engaging devices 27, 28, are to be positioned to test the opposite faces of the teeth from those shown in the drawings, the shank .fonthe standards 38 may be positioned in an opening 44 so as to support the indicating or measuring mechanism 35 in corresponding relationship to the tail 28a. The lever 28 is removably positioned on its fulcrum 34 by a knurled' sleeve 45.

At 46, the support 25 is formed with a guideway, preferably extending radially of the shaft 5, and at 47, the lower face of the base 30 is provided with a guide or rib slidably fitting the guidewiiy 46, thereby permitting guided movement of the base 30 toward and from the shaft 5 to position the tooth engaging devices 27, 28, for contact or engagement with the teeth of gears of different diameters; suitable means being provided for clamping the base 30 in its adjusted position. The clamping means just referred to preferably comprise one or more screws 48, each extending through an elongated opening formed in the base 30 andtting a screw threaded opening 30 formed in the support 25 and arranged to clamp the base thereto when the screw is tightened.' "I prefer to provide two such clamping means as shown in the drawings.

From the foregoing description it will be,

the latter is secured to the support 25, which carries the ange 265 and since the flange SII lill) 26 is in contact with and tangent to the l annulus 24 .coaxia with the gear A to be tested, it follows t at the free ends of the contact devices 27 and 28v will each con-" tact with its corresponding tooth face at a fixed predetermined distance from the axis of the gear.

Fig. 1 shows the operation of testing the spacing of two adjoining gear teeth, the hand 40 pointing to zero on the dial 41 and l thereby indicatino` that the spacing of these teeth 1s correct. -of engagement with' the contact devices 27,

tly raising the gear A out 28, the gear A may be rotated or indexed and then positioned so that the devices 27, 28,

will engage the corresponding working'faces of the next teeth, respectively. This operation may be repeated until al1 of the teeth have been tested. While I prefer to rotate or index the gear an angular distance suficient to move the next tooth into operative relation to the devices 27, 28, the gear may be rotated a greater distance :for each testing operat-ion. Where the gear is clamped in position b the nut 21 for making a test (as shown in ig. 2), it is first lloosened or removed to permit indexing in the manner'just described. If desired the gear may be re-v versed or the devices 27, l28, and indicating mechanism 35 may be positioned to test the opposite faces of the gear teeth a.

While in the disclosure herein I provide for the removal of the gear and its indexing relative to the shaft 5, I may'in some instances secure the gear A to the shaft 5 and move it lirst substantially endwise and then about its axis, and in other instances otherl forms of shaft 5 itself which will occur to those skilled iirthis art may be employed.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that my construction is relatively simple and easily operated. In practice I have found that very slight inaccuracies in the gear pitch may be readily indicated and measured by the apparatus herein disclosed.

To those skilledin the art to which my invention relates many modications and widely diliering embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves It will be understood that the illustrations and disclosures herein are purely illustrative and notI intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

l. In apparatus of the cla-ss described, the combination of a support for a gear, a supporting means disposed in the plane of the gear on said support, a pair ot' devices removably mounted on. said supporting means and arranged simultaneously to engage corresponding facesvof adjoining teeth of the gear, one of said devices being normally fixed and the other device being movable, one of said devices being adjustable on said supporting means toward and from the other device, an indicator operatively connected with said movable device, andmeans for adjusting said supporting means toward and fromsaid support.

2. In a gear testing apparatus lfor testing the spacing of the successive teeth of a gear, a support for a Igear to be tested, two measuring elements .positioned relatively to the gear support so as to engage respectively two omologous faces of adjacent teeth of a gear on the support, the point of engagement of eaclrele'ment and tooth being vata predeterinined'iixed distance from the rotational axis of the gear, and indicating means associated with said elements for indicating the distance between the points of engagement.

13. In a gear testing apparatus for testing the spacing of the successive teeth of a gear, a support for a gear to vbe tested, two measuringI elements positioned relatively to the gear support so as to engage respectively two homologous :fa-ces of adjacent teeth of a gear on the support, the point of engagement of each element and tooth being at a predetermined lixed distance from the rotational axis of the gear, one of said elements being 'movable, and indicating meanssassociated withsald movable element for indicating-the distance between the points of engagement.` I f '4. Ina gear testing apparatus for testing 'the spacing of the successive teeth of a gear,

a support for a gear to be tested, two measurnig elements positioned relatively to the gear support so as to engage respectively two homologous faces of adjacent teeth of a gear on the support, the point of engagement of each element and tooth being at a predetermined fixed distance from the rotational aXis of the gear, one of said elements being fixed and the other movable relatively thereto, and indicating means associated with said movable element for indicating the distance between the points of engagement.

5. In -a gear testing apparatus for testing the spacing of the successive teeth of a gear, a frame, a support on the frame for supportloo i'ng a gear to be tested with its rotational l axis stationary but with the gear movable rotatively about the axis and movable longitudinally along the axis, two measuring elements mounted on the-frame, spaced apart and positioned relatively to the support so that, in testing the spacing of successive teeth of the gear, the gear on the support may be rotated to bring a tooth of the gear opposite the space between the measuring elements, moved axially to bring the tooth between the two elements, rotated to cause the elements to engage respectively two homologous faces of adjacent gear teeth and moved axially from said engagement for similarly engaging succeeding teeth of the gear, and indicating means associated with tween the points 0f engage-ment.

' 6. In a gear testing apparatus for testing the spacing of the successive teeth of a gear, a frame, 'a support on the frame'for support,- ing a gear to be`tested with its rotational Aaxis stationary but with the gear movable rotatively about the axis and movable lonvitudinally along the axis, two measuring e ements mounted on the frame, spaced apart and positioned relatively to the support so that, in testing the spacing lof successive teeth of thev gear, the gear. on the support may be rotated vto bring a tooth of the gear opposite the space between the measuring elements, moved axially to bring the tooth between the two elements, rotated to cause the elements to engage respectively two homologous faces of adjacent gear teeth and moved axially from said engagement -fory similarly engaging `succeeding teeth of the lgear, one of said elements being movable, and indicating means associated with said movable element for indicating the distance between the points of engagement. l

7. In a gear testing apparatus for testing the spacing of the successive teeth of a gear,

rotated to bring a tooth of the gear opposite the space 4between the measuring elements, moved axially to bring the tooth between the twov elements, rotated to cause the tooth to engage the fixed element as a stop and tol cause the two elements to engage respec-l tively two homologous faces of adjacent gear teeth and be moved axially from said engagement for similarly engaging succeeding teeth,l

of the gear, and indicating means associated with said movable element for indicating the distance between the points of engagement.

8. In a gear testing apparatus for testing the spacing of the successive teeth of 'a gear,

a frame, a support on the frame for supporting a gear to be tested with its rotational axis stationary but with the gear movable rotatively about the axis and movable longitudinally along the axis, two measuring ele-- meiit-s, one of which is fixed and the other of which is movable relatively thereto, mounted on the frame, spaced apart .and positioned relatively to the support so that, in testing the spacing of successive teeth of the gear, the gear on the support may be rotated to bring a tooth of the gear opposite the space between the measuring elements, moved axially to bring the tooth between the two elements,r0tated to cause .the *300th to engage the fixed element as a stop and to cause the two elements to engage respectivel two homologous faces' of adjacent gear teet and be moved axially from said engagement for similarly engaging succeedingv teeth Aof the gear, the point of engagement of each'elef ment and tooth being at a predetermined fixed distance from the rotational axis of the gear, and indicating means associated with said movable element for indicating the dis'- tance between the points of engagement.

9. In a gear testing apparatus for testing the spacing of the successive teeth of a gear,

a frame, a support on the frpme for supporting the gear to be tested, with its rotational axis stationary but withthe gear movable rotatively about the axis, two measuring elements mounted on the frame and positioned relatively to the support so that the gear,..

when mounted on the su port with a tooth thereof between the two e ements, may be rotated to cause the elementsto engage respecaol tively two homologous faces of adjacent teeth of the gear, and'indicating means associated with said elementsfor indicating the distance between the points of engagement.l

10. In a gear testing apparatus for testing thereof between the two elements, may bev rotated to cause the elements to engage respectively two homologous faces of adjacent teeth of the ear, one of said elementsbeing movable, an indicating means associated with said movable element for indicating the distance between the points of engagement.

11. In a gear testing apparatus-for testing the'spa'cing of the successive teeth of a gear,

a frame, a support on the frame for supporting the gear to be tested, with its rotational axis stationary but with the gear movable rotatively aboutltlie axis, two'measuring velements, one of which is fixed and the other of which is movable relatively thereto, mount-ed on the frame and positioned relatively to the support so that the gear, when mounted onthe sup ort with a tooth thereofV between the two e ements, may be rota-ted to cause the tooth toengage the fixed elei'nent as a stop and to cause the two elements to engage respectively ltwo homologous faces of adjacent gear teeth, and indicating `means associated with said movable element for 1ndicating the distance between the points of engagement.

In testimony whereof, I havehereunto signed my name.

CHARLES H. 

